WIMBLEDON, England -- As Venus Williams, 43, entered Center Court for her 24th Wimbledon appearance, she was greeted with a standing ovation, holding a green sash over her head with both hands and holding it out as she took the seat beside him approached.

In her opening match against Elina Svitolina, Serena Williams showcased a level of play that harkened back to her prime. With her powerful serves and precise strokes, she quickly found herself on the verge of taking a commanding 3-0 lead on Monday.

In a dramatic turn of events at Wimbledon, Venus Williams suffered a knee injury during her match against Elina Svitolina. The incident occurred when Williams slipped on the green grass while attempting a volley. She immediately fell to the ground, shrieking and clutching her right knee, which was already covered by a beige sleeve.

Despite the injury, Williams showed incredible resilience and determination. She twice received treatment from a trainer, including having her knee taped up during a medical timeout after the first set. However, the American tennis legend was unable to overcome Svitolina's strong performance, resulting in a 6-4, 6-3 defeat.

Williams' slip and subsequent injury were met with shock and disappointment from both fans and fellow players. The incident added to her recent challenges, as she has faced early exits in several Grand Slam events. Nevertheless, Williams displayed flashes of her vintage form at Wimbledon, showcasing powerful serves and crisp strokes that garnered applause from the crowd.

Looking ahead, Williams expressed the need to process the fall and evaluate her future plans. The slippery surface and the unfortunate turn of events have left her determined to figure out what's happening and move forward. Despite the setback, Williams' enduring love for the game and her unwavering spirit continue to inspire fans worldwide.
"I'm not sure what I've done. I'm going to have to investigate it tomorrow. It's late today. But it was quite painful," Williams said. "Grass is inherently going to be slippery; you're going to fall at some point. It was just bad luck for me. I started the match perfectly. I was literally killing it. And then I got killed by the grass."

Williams, a former world No. 1 who is currently ranked outside the top 500 due to a series of injuries that have limited her to 22 matches since the beginning of 2021, was the oldest player in this year's Wimbledon tournament. In fact, she was the fourth oldest player to compete in the main draw at Wimbledon.